Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides
Crispy Southern Hushpuppies are the ultimate easy dinner side. After making them dozens of times, I’ve discovered the trick to perfectly crispy, golden hushpuppies every time. You’ll love the crispy exterior and soft, fluffy interior. Jump to the recipe card or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Lentil and Rice Stuffed Cabbage Rolls Recipe and Easy Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole for Hearty Dinners.
Why This Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides Is Pure Comfort
- Crispy exterior with a soft, fluffy interior
- Ready in just 20 minutes
- Better than takeout
- Perfect for pairing with your favorite main dish
What You'll Need for Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- Self-rising cornmeal mix
- All-purpose flour
- Yellow onion
- Jalapeño pepper
- Fresh cilantro
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Buttermilk
- Vegetable oil
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Paprika
- Cayenne pepper
- Optional: Tartar sauce
- Optional: Hot sauce
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Self-rising cornmeal mix: If you don't have self-rising cornmeal mix, you can make your own by combining 2 cups of cornmeal, 1/4 cup of all-purpose flour, and 1 tablespoon of baking powder.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Cast iron skillet — Even heat distribution for perfect frying → See on Amazon
- Deep fry thermometer — Ensures safe and even frying → See on Amazon
How to Make Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides
- Prepare the batter: In a large bowl, combine self-rising cornmeal mix, all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, garlic powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper. Stir in buttermilk until just combined. Fold in diced onion, jalapeño, and cilantro.
- Fry the hushpuppies: Heat vegetable oil in a deep cast iron skillet to 350°F (175°C). Drop batter by heaping tablespoons into the hot oil. Fry for 2-3 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides
- Common mistake and fix: The #1 reason this recipe fails is using too much batter for each hushpuppy. To prevent this, use a small cookie scoop or spoon to ensure consistent size and even cooking.
- Substitution tip: If you don't have buttermilk, you can make a substitute by adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar to 1 cup of milk and letting it sit for 5 minutes before using.
- Make-ahead tip: You can make the batter ahead of time and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours. Just give it a quick stir before frying.
- Serving tip: Serve hushpuppies hot with your favorite dipping sauce, like tartar sauce or hot sauce.
Storing & Reheating Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftover hushpuppies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: The batter can be made ahead of time and refrigerated for up to 24 hours.
Freezing Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides
Hushpuppies can be frozen for up to 2 months. Reheat in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 10-15 minutes.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat leftover hushpuppies in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 10-15 minutes. Microwave: Do not reheat hushpuppies in the microwave as they will become soggy.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For extra crispy hushpuppies, dust the batter with a little extra flour before frying.
- Best substitution: If you don't have jalapeño, you can substitute with a small amount of diced bell pepper for a milder flavor.
- Make-ahead: Hushpuppies are best served fresh, but the batter can be made ahead of time.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve a larger crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If your hushpuppies are not crispy, try increasing the oil temperature or frying them for a little longer.
Want to level up this recipe?
High-quality vegetable oil — Ensures crispy, golden hushpuppies → Check price on Amazon
Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Self-rising cornmeal mix
- All-purpose flour
- Yellow onion
- Jalapeño pepper
- Fresh cilantro
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Buttermilk
- Vegetable oil
Seasonings
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Paprika
- Cayenne pepper
Optional Toppings
- Tartar sauce
- Hot sauce
Instructions
- Prepare the batter: In a large bowl, combine self-rising cornmeal mix, all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, garlic powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper. Stir in buttermilk until just combined. Fold in diced onion, jalapeño, and cilantro.
- Fry the hushpuppies: Heat vegetable oil in a deep cast iron skillet to 350°F (175°C). Drop batter by heaping tablespoons into the hot oil. Fry for 2-3 minutes on each side or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
Notes
- Chef tip: For extra crispy hushpuppies, dust the batter with a little extra flour before frying.
- Best substitution: If you don't have jalapeño, you can substitute with a small amount of diced bell pepper for a milder flavor.
- Make-ahead: Hushpuppies are best served fresh, but the batter can be made ahead of time.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve a larger crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If your hushpuppies are not crispy, try increasing the oil temperature or frying them for a little longer.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftover hushpuppies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Hushpuppies can be frozen for up to 2 months. Reheat in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 10-15 minutes.
- Oven reheat: Reheat leftover hushpuppies in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 10-15 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Do not reheat hushpuppies in the microwave as they will become soggy.
- Make ahead: The batter can be made ahead of time and refrigerated for up to 24 hours.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 140
- Protein: 3g
- Fat: 6g
- Carbs: 19g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Cholesterol: 5mg
- Sat. Fat: 1g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides FAQs
Hushpuppies are best served fresh, but the batter can be made ahead of time and refrigerated for up to 24 hours.
The #1 reason this recipe fails is using too much batter for each hushpuppy. To prevent this, use a small cookie scoop or spoon to ensure consistent size and even cooking.
Yes, you can make hushpuppies in the air fryer. Preheat the air fryer to 375°F (190°C), lightly spray the basket with cooking oil, and cook the hushpuppies for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through.
Hushpuppies are a great side dish for fried fish, BBQ, or any of your favorite main dishes. They also pair well with dipping sauces like tartar sauce or hot sauce.
Store leftover hushpuppies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. They can also be frozen for up to 2 months and reheated in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 10-15 minutes.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Crispy Southern Hushpuppies Recipe for Easy Dinner Sides and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
